Device for operating a set of levers



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. D. GANSE.

DEVICE EOE OPERATING A SET 0E LEVEES.

No. 390,768. Patented 001;. 9, 1888.

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(No Model.)

H. D. GANSE.

'DEVICE FOR OPERATING A SET OP LB VERS. No. 390,768.

Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

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N. PETKRSA Pme-Lithograph, wnminemn. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. D. GANSB. y DEVICE POR'OPERATING A SET OP LEVERS. No. 390,768.

Patented 001:. 9, 188.8.

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N. PETERS. Phmo-mnognpher. wnsnngmn. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I-I. D. GANSE.

DEVICE EOE OPERATING A SET 0F LEVEES.v No. 390,768. Patented Oct. 9,1888.

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Unirse 'rares HERVEY D. GANSE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,768, dated October9, 1888.

Application tiled July 17. 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, l-InRvnY D. GANsn, of St. Louis, Missouri, have madeanew and useful Device for Operating a Set of Levers, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the annexed drawings, making part ot' this specilication, in which-Figure 1 isa view in perspective ot'a device; Fig. 2, aplan; Fig. 3, aside elevation; Fig. 4, a longitudinal vertical section upon an enlargedscale, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a similar section, theparts being as when a key is depressed; Figs. 6 to 23, details uponvarious scales, Fig. 6 being a front elevation, partly in section,showing the mechanism for operating the slides; Fig, 7, a bottom viewoi' the slides; Fig. 8, a view from the front, showing the means foradjusting the rockframe; Fig. 9, a view vfrom the front, showing themeans for adjusting the slides transversely in the device; Fig. 10, aside view of one of the tumbler-rods; Fig. l1, a view in perspective ofthe forward end of a tumblerrod; Fig. 12, a view iu perspective of therearward end of a tumbler-rod, the rod having the pendant attached; Fig.13, a sectional view ofthe part to which the tumbler-rods at their innerends are jointed; Fig. 14, a view in perspective 'from the rear of thepart last referred to; Fig. 15, a view in perspective, showing the modeol' hinging the levers; Fig. 16, a top view of the slides upon anenlarged scale, the slides, for the purpose of illustration, beingspaced apart more than in practice is necessary, and the positions ofthe tumbler-rods being indicated by the crosslines; Fig. 17, a view inperspective ofthe slides; Fig. 18,21. view in perspective showing theslides in part, and showing a tumblerrod ready to fall when the slide D2shall have been moved to the right; Fig. 19, a crosssectiou ofthe partshown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20, a view in perspective showing the partsexhibited in Fig. 18, but the slide D2 is moved to the right and thetumbler-rod is in the notches in the slides; Fig. 21,a cross-section ofthe parts shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 22, aview in perspective of the slidesin part, (two, D2 and D3, ofthe slides must be moved to the right beforethe tumbler-rod can fall;) and Fig. 23, a view of the parts shown inFig. 22,

Serial No. 66,919. (No model.)

but the two slides D2 D3 have been moved to the right and into positionfor the tumbler-rod to drop. y Figs. 24 and 25 illustrate a modicationin the construction of the slides and tumbler-rods.

The same letters denote the same parts.

rllhe aim of the present invention is to provide for moving any one, asdesired, of a set of levers by means of one or more of another set oflevers, the levers of the operating set being less in number than thoseof the set operated upon.

The invention is adaptable to various mechanisms which have a number oflevers or parts requiring to be separately moved-type-setting ortelegraphing mechanisms, forinstance. It is especially valuable iuconnection with a type-writing mechanism, as it enables the operatorwith, say, half a dozen levers to accomplish all that is now feasiblewith the ordinary type-writer, the key-board of which contains as manylevers as there are types to be moved. y

Considered generally, the device consists of the set ofoperating-levers, a set of independently-movable slides, a set ofmovable tumbler-rods, and the set of levers operated upon. The slides innumber correspond to the operating-levers, and the movement of thesiides are responsive to the movements, respectively, of theoperating-levers. The movements of the tumbler-rods are determined bythe positions of the slides. The tumbler-rods in number correspond tothe levers operated upon, and the movements of the levers operated uponare dependent on the movements, respectively, of the tumbler-rods.

In the drawings, A represents the base of the device.

B B2 B3, Ste., represent the levers to be moved, and C C2 O3 C* C5 C thelevers for effecting the movement of the first-named levers.

rlhe operating-levers C C2, Snc., can be considered and hereinafter willbe styled keys,77 the operators hand being applied to the forward ends,c 0, of the keys as to the key-board of a type-writer, causing the endsc c to be depressed as desired, and through the mechanism hereinafterdescribed producing the desired movements of the levers BB2, 85o. The

keys O C, 85e., turn upon a fulcrum, a..

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Springs c act to recover the keys when the ends c c are released by theoperator.

D D2 D3 Dl D DG represent a set of slides. They are arrangedtransversely in the device, and they are supported so that they can beindependently moved endwise a short distance to the right. In thepresent device the slides rest at their ends upon the posts Fi E. Theseposts are arranged one at each side ofthe device, and are attached toand extend upward from the base A. The posts also serve, by means of backcts j", to support a cross-bar, F. The slides longitudinally in thedevice are confined by guides c. The endwise movement of the slides islimited by the stops G G', Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9. The stops, by means of thescrews g, are made adj nstable for the purpose of adjusting the terminiof the movement of the slides.

H H represent another pair of posts, which are att-ached to and extendupward from the base A at each side thereof.

l represents an oscillating frame, which at z' 'i' is hinged to theposts H H, and which extends thence toward the rear end of the device,the rear end bar, fi', coming in the rear of the slides D D, &c. r1`hcforward end bar, i2, of the frame, in connection with the plates t il",serves to support and hold the forward ends of a set of so-calledtumbler-roda7 J' J J, 'Ic., but in such manner that the rear ends of thetumbler-rods and the rear end of the oscillating frame can, whendesired, be opened slightly apart. The tumbler-rods toward their rearends pass above the slides D D?, &c., and rest in a slotted guideplate,if', which is fastened to the bar i.

The shape of the tumbler-rods is shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and theinode of connecting the rods and the parts i2 i t" is shown in Figs. 4,5, 13. Reference in this respect is also had to Fig. 14. The rear endsof the tumbler-rods project through the slotted guide-plate i, that isattached to the bar fi, and beyond the plate 'i5 the rod ends areextended to project above and beyond the cross-bar F', and at theirextremities are provided with pendants j, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 12. Theoscillating frame at its forward end is counter-balanced, thecounter-balances 'if' fi being attached to the arms i7 il, which projectforward from the frame, as shown more distinctly in Figs. 1, 4, 5. Thecounter-balances are adjusted perfectly, so as to j ust overcome theweight atV the rear end of the oscillating frame and lift the tumbler-rods out of the slides, it being my intention to render theoscillating frame sensitive to the force used in depressing its rearend. Springs, such as is, may be used in connection with or in place ofthe countenbalances. The springs lead from the posts H H to the arms iThe osciilating frame is also provided with an arm, i, which extendsfrom the bar i downward, and at its lower end is furnished with abearing, il, which 's preferably in the form of a friction-roller andvertically adjustable upon the arm if.

K represents a rock-frame which is attached to and which rocks upon thebearing k. The frame is extended from the bearing horizontally andvertically, the horizontal portion lo being furnished with a cross-bar,It", upon which the keys C ji, ttc., when depressed, strike. From thebar 7:. an arm, It, extends upward and forward and so as to encounterthe roller il as the rock-frame is turned on the bearing 7a. The arm atits extremity is supplied with acurved rub plate, 7a", the rub-platebeing adjustable upon the arm if to enable the rock-frame to properlymove the oscillating frame, as hereinafter described. The verticalextension ki of the rock-frame serves to impart motion to the pendants,as hereinafter described.

Springs, L L, at each side of the device and extending from the bar k2upward to the posts F/ E', serve to uphold the horizontal portion of therock-frame and to keep parts as shown in Fig. 4. The connection of thesprings L L with the posts E E is made adjustable, as shown in Fig. 8.

M M represent cross-plates extending crosswise in the device, above thekeys C C, die., and held in the posts lil E.

N N`l N3 N Ni NG represent a set of L-shaped levers, journaled at a fn,in the plates M M', and at one end, a', bearing upon the keys C' C2,&c., respectively, and at the other end, ai, con nected with the slidesD D2, &c., respectively. Springs N1l N, Sac., supported upon bearings mm between the plates M M and pressing against the ends n ofthe leversNNi, die., act to turn the levers N N, e., on their bearings u nwhenever the forward ends of the keys C G2, dre., are depressed and whenthe levers N N, the., are thus turned the slides D D?, Src., are movedendwise (to the right as seen) upon their bearings, and, when the keys CC", Src., rise again the slides are moved endwise to the lei`t,or backagain to their original positionwthatis, each of the keys C' Cl C C C Cis, through the levers 1 N N3 N4 N3 N, respectively, connected with theslides D D2 D:j

D1 D D in such manner that when any one of the keys is moved upon thefulerumc the particular slide with which the key moved is connected ismoved endwise upon the posts lil E, the depression ofthe key allowingthe slide to be moved in one dircctionnalnely, to the right-and thespring c at the rear end of the key being of su fficent strength toovercome the spring Nu and cause the slide to be moved in the oppositedirection.

The keys C C, rte., are preferably provided with adjustable plates c c?,to make the Contact ofthe keys with the levers N N2, dac., exact anduniform, and the ends a2 a? of the levers are connected with the slidesD D D Dl Di D" preferably as shown in Figs. 4, 5, (i, the slides in theedges toward the levers being notched at d and also at d, and the ends nengaging in the notches cZ-that is, each slide has a single narrow notchd to receive its particular lever end n, and, in addition to the I OOTIO

narrow notch, has other and wider notches, d2 d`, the object of whichwider notches is as follows: It is desirable to have the lever ends n2at their' extremities wider than the thickness of the slides they arerespectively moving; but when thus made each end a2 would interfere withthe other slides were it not for the wide notches d in theotherslides.The notches dz, however, and which are suitable arranged and of suitablewidth therefor, provide room foreach lever end 11jl to move itsrespective slide without striking or interfering` with the movement ofany other slide.

IThe slides in the edges opposed to the tumbler-rods are notched, asseen more distinctly in Figs. 16 to 23. The object of these last-namednotches is as follows: For each of the levers B )2, &c., there is acorresponding tumbler-rod, J J', 85e., and the desired movement of thelevers B B2, che., is effected by previously moving the tumbler-rods JJ,&c. The movement of the tumbler-rods is accomplished by means of thenotches referred to in the upper edges of the slides, the notches providing spaces into which the tumbler-rods can drop. It only remains tocontrol the dropping of the tumbler-rods, so that they shall be droppedin the proper order, as desired. This is determined by the location ofthe notches in the upper edges of the slides D D" D3 D" DU.

The distribution of the notches along the several slides is made uponthe following prineiple: In order to allow any tumbler-rod to fall, sixnotches, (there being six slides in the present case,) one in eachslide, must be in line beneath the rod. As many keys as are depressed toallow that rod to fall, so many notches must, before the depression ofthe keys, have stood, not beneath the rod, but a little to the leftthereof, ready to be brought to their place beneath the rod when thekeys shall be depressed and the slides moved by them to the right; butas many keys as are not depressed for the production of the movement ofthe tumbler-rod, so many notches are already standing under thetumbler-rod, waiting to have those others just named brought into linewith them. For example, the letter A (the present invention being hereillustrated as an attachment to a typewriter) is com manded in thisdevice by the depression of the single key marked A in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. Accordingly beneath the A tumbler-rod (meaning the tumbler-rodwhich is connected with and effects the movement of that one of thelevers B B2, &c., marking the letter A in the type writer) all the fiveslides that respond to the other keys CL C3 C C5 C must have theirnotches standing ready While the notch of the slide of that one A keystands out ofline to the left. Fig. 1G of the drawings shows the slidesin plan view, the place of each tumbler-rod beingindieated by across-line, and the slides are shown as they stand when no key isdepressed. In this figure the fifth line of notches, coming from theleft, belongs to the letter A,as above described. Next,on the right,come the notches of the numeral 8, whoselever comes in that order in theRemington typewriter, to which this form of device is adapted. Thenumeral 3 is commanded in my system, to be hereinafter explained, by thethree keys at the left of the key-board. Accordingly the three slideswhich respond to these keys (these are the three lower slides, as shownin Figs. 16, 17) are seen to have their notches to the left of the lineof the tumbler-rod. Next come the notches of the letter Z, which letteris commanded by the two keys marked in Fig. l Iand U. The notches of thecorresponding slides (designated by the letters IandU at the left of theslides in Fig. 17) accordingly are seen to stand at the left of the Zrod. The remainder of Figs. 16, 17 shows in the different combiuationsthe two classes of notches thatl have now been described-namely, thosewhich stand in the line of the tu mbler-rod, ready to receive it, andthose which must be moved up into line by the depression of the keys CC2 C C" C5 Cl'. The endwise movement ofthe slides is in the present caseabout one-sixteenth of an inch. That, therefore, is the distance to theleft at which the out-ofline notches must stand in order that thedepression of the proper keys` may bring them into line.

It will be seen, that since each notch", which, so long as its key isuntouched, stands in line under la given tumbler-rod, itself moves tothe right, when its key is touched, that movement breaks up the line ofnotches for that tumblerrod, and prevents it from falling. For example,the letter B in this device is commanded by the key marked A, inconnection with the next key to the right of it. An examination of the Arow of notches in Figs. 16,17 will show that, although the combinationof keys used in producing B will bring the one A notch up into place forproducing A, that combination will at the same time draw the notch onthe next slide to the right and out of place, so that while the Btumbler-rod can fall the A rod cannot. In this way throughout the systemthe combination that produces any one line of notches under its propertumblenrod breaks up every other.

The system of combinations used in this device is found very convenient;but I do not limit myself to it. It is shown in full in Figs. 16, 17.Its main features are as follows: The key marked C', Fig. 1, is not usedat all for the production of letters, but comes into combination forproducing punctuation -marks and numerals. The remaining ve keys producethe letters, as follows: rlhe keys marked A E I O U produce each byitself the vowels with which they are marked-that is, the key marked Aproduces A, thekey marked Eproduces E, and so on. For the production ofthe consonants,keys are combined according to the following plan: Anyvowel-key that is simultaneously depressed with the key next to theright of it will. produce the consonant which in the alphabet standsnext after that vowel,

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the A key with the next producing the letter- B, the E key with the nextproducing F, the I key with the next producing J, and so on.

In making addition to the U key, since there is none beyond it, the livelettered keys are used in a circle-that is, the operator adds to the Ukey the A key,going round from the top of the key-board to the bottom.Thus theU key with the A key produces V. By extension of this system anyvowel key in combination with the two keys next above it produces thesecond letter after that vowel. So A with two additional keys producesC, E with two additional keys G, and so on. A with three additional keysproduces D, E with three additional keys produces Hgand so on. Thissysteimby using the keys in a circle, provides for nearly the wholealphabet, as appears from Figs. lo', 17. Those figures will also showwhat departures from this system have been made from necessity or forconvenience of lingering. The combinations used for punctuation willappear from the same figures. The numerals are produced as follows:Number l is the sameas the letter I. Number 2 is produced by combiningthe two keys at the extreme left of the keyboard, number 3 by threekeys, and so on up to Aft-er this 'the first key on the left combinedwith the third-that is, skipping the A keyproduces'. These saine withanother key on the right produce 7, and on to i). The letter O is thecipher.

As above stated, the various tumbler rods J J', 85e., are respectivelyconnected with the various levers B' B2, &c., and the dropping` of thetumblerrods is a condition precedent to the movement of the levers. Theparticular mode of operating the slides D D, the., in order that thetumbler-rods shall drop, and the means for connecting the tumbler-rodswith and for operating the levers B B2, &c., are as follows: As akey-say the key Gilis depressed, as in Fig. G, the lever N at once actsto shift the corresponding slide,l`), endwise to the right, asdescribed. The tumbler-rod J as yet has not dropped, as it cannot dropuntil the oscillating frame l has turned downward on its hinges t' Bycontinuing to depress tlie lever C, however, it encounters the1ockfraniel(tlie forward edge of which stands a little below the lowersurface ofthe keys) and bears the forward end of the rockframedownward,as seen in Fig. i5. This downward move ment of the rock-framebrings the rub-plates 7u lc4 against the rollers 'im/m and causes theoscillating frameto be turned downward, as desired, upon its hinges. Theset of tumblerrods moves with the frame l; but that tuinbler-rod J thatis over the coincident notches drops thereimas seen in Fig. 5. Thependant 7' upon the end of the rod has dropped with the rod andsuiiciently to bring its lower end in front of the vertical extension 75ol" the rockframe. The pendant andthe extension are so relativelyadjusted as to provide for the descent of the pendant before the upperend of the extension moves forward to encounter the i)eiula1it,for byrocking therock-frameforward, as described, by means of the key C theeX- tension ki is caused to strike and bear against the lower end ofthependantj. The pendant works up and down without friction in aperforation in thc lever B. rEhe levers B B2, &c., as seen in Figs. 4,5, l5, are attached to the cross-bar F by means of the straps f, whichin turn hang somewhat loosely upon pins on the bar F. This allows therear ends of the levers B B2, &c., by the application of a slight force,to be sprung downward, as in Fig. 5, and when the force is removed thetypewriter (or other) levers with which the levers B B2, ttc., areconnected act to draw the rear ends ofthe levers B B, Snc., up againinto their original positions, as in Fig. 4. Now, when the frame K isrocked forward, as described, thelower end of the pendantj is swungforward and the lever B thereby inclined, as shown in Fig. 5, and thedesired movement of the lever B thereby obtained. On releasing the keyC" it, by reason ol' the action of the spring c', rises, the rock frame,being actuated by the springs L L', rocks backward, the oscillatingframe, by reason of. the counterbalances i i, is turned upward upon itshinges, the tumbler-rod is lifted out of the slides, the lever B isallowed to spring upward, and the slide D is caused to slide back againinto its original position, when the operation can be repeated.

To facilitate the working of the device, an electrical attachment may beannexed to the device.

t represents an electro magnet suitably su pported in the device, and soas, when the electrical connection is established, to act upon anarmature, r, which is attached to the rockfraine K', and thereby drawthe part of the rock-frame with which the armature is immediatelyconnected toward the magnet. The operation of this feature of the deviceis as fol l o ws BL represents a frame arranged beneath the keyboard andturning upon the bearings lr'. When any key is depressed, it encountersthe frame R2 at its rear end and bears it down. A hook, r2, Figs. l, 3,which is suspended from the frame R, drops with the frame. The hookupholds a rod, r, that is in the circuit of the magnet, and when thehook drops the rear end of the rod r also falls, and so as to come incontact with the pin 1*, which is also in the circuit ofthe magnet. Thecircuit now being completed, the magnet acts upon the rockframe andsupplements the force applied to the key. As soon as the key is releasedand rises a spring, yr", acts to lift the rear end oll the frame R2,whereupon the circuitof the magnet is broken and the rock-frame is freeto be rocked backward. l

O represents the spacer. Itis pvoted at o. It is operated simply bythrowing the hand upward from the key-board and lifting the l'orward endofthe spacer. f

In Fig. l the rods P are shown to illustrate the connection of thelevers B- B`, rte., with the mechanism of a typewriter, the rodsextending from the levers B' B2, Sie., upward, suitably to form theconnections with those levers of the type-writer which move the types.The type-writing mechanism is not here shown. Its construction is wellunderstood, and it can be used with the present device by simply hookingthe upright rods P over those levers of the type-writer which terminatein the several keys of that instrument and in the spacer. When thedevice is employed to operate the levers of other mechanisms, theconnections leading from the levers B B", &c., are suitably moditied tosnit the special mechanism in question.

In thus employing but few levers to operate many all the various partsof the mechanism above described are of value; but the principal featureof the device I consider to be the combination of the slides andtumbler-rods, for, while the other features of the device can be more orless varied, these two features must be retained. The slides andtumblerrods as a combination, however, can be modied in this: thenotches can be made in the tumbler-rods and the place of the slides canbe taken by straight edges of thin metal, which are made by theirrespective keys'to move or tilt forward to suit the notches of thetumblerrods, as shown in Figs. 24, 25.

I am aware that heretofore in type-writing devices there has been usedthe combination of movable plates having pcrforations, so that eachchange in position shall present a difierent opening through the entireseries of plates, and I make no claim thereto.

I claim- 1. The combination of the slides D'D" D, &c., and thetumblerrods J' J' J', rnc., for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the keys C' C, &c., the slides D' D2 D, &c., andthe tumbler-rods J' J' J', &c., the movements of the slides answeringthe movements of the keys, for the purpose described. p

3. The combination of the slides D' D2 D, &c., the posts E' E', theadjustable stops G' G', and the tumbler-rods J' J', &c., substantiallyas described.

4. The combination of the slides D' D2 D", Cnc., the posts E' Fl, theguides c e, and the adjustable stops G" G', substantially as described.

5. The combination of the oscillating frame I', the tumbler-rods J' J',&c., and the slides D' D2 D, &c., substantially as described.

6. The combination of the frame I', the tumbler-rods J J' J', Snc., andthe slotted guideplate i5, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the slides D' DL D,

dre., the tumbler-rods J J' J', &c., and a frame for lifting said rodsout of engagement wlth said slides when desired.

' 8. The combination of the slides D' D2 D3, &c., the tumbler-rods J' JJ', &c., and a frame for supporting said tumbler-rods, said frame beingmovable toward and from said slides.

9. The combination of the keys C' C', Sac., the rock-frame K', havingthe arms kilo, and the oscillating frame I', having the arms i9 i,substantially as described.

10. The combination of the base A', the cross-bar F', the hinged leversB' B'l B3, Src., the rock -frame K', the keys C' C", 85o., the posts E'E', and the springs L' L', substantially as described.

11. The combination of the keys G' G2, Src., the fulcrum a, the springsc' c', 85e., the plates M' M', the levers N' N2, die., the springs N11N22, &c., and the slides D' D', Stc.,substantially as described.

12. The combination of the slides D D', &c., having the notches d' andthe notches d', and the lever ends at n', substantially as described.

13. The combination of the bar F', the strap f', the lever B', thependant j, and the rockframe K', substantially as described.

14. The combination of the keys C' C2 G3, &c., the rock-frame K', thebar F', the hinged levers B' B2 Bi", &c., and the pendants jj j,substantially as described.

15. The combination of the oscillating frame I', the tumbler-rods J',the rock-frame K', the levers B' Bl B, dto., the pendants j j y', rc.,the bar F', and the keys G' G2 C, dto., substantially as described.

16. The combination of the tumbler-rods J' J' J', &c., the pendantsjjj,thc hinged levers B' B2 B3, &c., and the rock-frame K', substantially asdescribed.

17. The combination of the hinged levers B', &c., the rock-frame K',having the armature r, and the magnet It', substantially as described.

18. The combination of the hinged levers B', Src., the keys O2 03,850.,the rock-frame K', the armature r, and the electro magnet R',substantially as described. I

19. 'Ihe combination of the hinged levers B', &c., the keys C' C C3,Jvc., the rock-frame K', the armature i', the electro-magnet R', theoscillating 'frame R2, and the connections i" N11-4, substantially asdescribed.

20. The combination ofthe oscillating frame having thc arm i", with therub-plate k, responding to the depression of the keys, for the purposedescribed.

IIERVEY D. GANSE.

Witnesses:

C. D. MOODY, CHARLns ProlrLns.

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